Life, 1896-03-05 · page 7 of 20
Life — March 5, 1896 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 175 This page contains two distinct pieces of humor: **Top Cartoon:** Shows a well-dressed man observing military officers with a horse-drawn carriage. The caption suggests he feared doing something to break off an engagement—implying anxiety about a romantic commitment. **"Different from the Rest" Section:** A poem about romantic boldness, featuring a small illustration of cherubs/cupids. The poem plays on the conceit that kisses are progressive ("One kiss is only to begin"). **Bottom Anecdote:** A brief joke about American identity. Someone claims they "always been an American until I went around a curve in a cable car this morning," then became a "Laplander"—suggesting the violent motion made them seasick or disoriented, humorously questioning their national identity through physical distress. The humor relies on romantic conventions and wordplay typical of early 20th-century magazine satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘* HE WAS AFRAID HE MIGHT DO SOMETHING TO MAKE YOU BREAK OFF THE ENGAGEMENT.” “DID YOU REASSURE HIM 2?” ER THAN THAT.” HAT other.men have dared, I dare,” He said. ‘I'm daring, too: And tho’ they told me to beware, One kiss I'll take from you. “Did I say one? Forgive me, dear ; That was a grave mistake, For when I've taken one, I fear, One hundred more I'll take. DIFFERENT FROM THE REST. “'Tis sweet one kiss from you to win, But to stop there? Oh, no! Onc kiss is only to begin ; There is no end, you know.” The maiden rose from where she sat And gently raised her head : “No man has ever talked like that— You may begin," she said. “T HAD always been an American until I went around a curve in a cable car this morning.” “What difference did that make?” ‘Then I became a Laplander.” comicbooks.com